Looking for a specific product?

Increased duty on agricultural products

The government coalition parties have agreed to raise the customs duty on beef, lamb and firm cheeses in order to protect Norwegian farmers and agriculture.

Original author:
The Norway Post
Published: 19.09.2012

An increase in the tariffs for imported goods will help protect Norwegian farmers and their local products.

Minister of Agriculture Trygve Slagsvold Veum tells Nationen that this change is important in order to reach their goal of increased food production in Norway.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Jonas Gahr Støre agrees: "This is a compromise where we have tried to secure the core of Norwegian food production. Import protection is a useful tool in this situation, and always has been. On the other hand, we also value variety, and keep the consumers' interests in mind," Støre tells Aftenposten.

Although Veum claims that the new legislation will not lead to higher food prices, he states that it is the most comprehensive tariff change since 1995.

Both Denmark and Sweden are unhappy with Norway's plans to increase protective duty on agricultural products, and the EU Commission is considering reactions to Norway's decision, Nationen reports.